Suspension means for accordion-type doors and the like



p 1957 E. M. STANKEWICH ETAL I 2,806,525

SUSPENSION MEANS FOR ACCORDIAN-TYPE DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 18, 1955 Amwq United States Patent O SUSPENSION MEANS FOR ACCORDION-TYPE DOORS AND THE LIKE Edward M. Stankewich, Garden City, and Joseph Rosenfeld, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,132

, 3 Claims. (Cl. 160-84) The present invention relates to accordion-type doors and room partitioners and more particularly to improvements in their suspension means.

Usually heretofore, doors of this class were of relatively :stiif material, arranged in panel-like abutting and hinged sections, folding accordion-wise. Where fabric curtains were used as the body of such doors, metal accordion hinges were used to suspend such curtain and cause the accordion fold. The width of panel was of course fixed by the dimension of a hinge plate. In any event, these doors were rather expensive.

The principal object of this invention is to provide novel and improved suspension means for an accordion-type door which may even be of fabric or other suitable sheeting preferably defining a panelled formation, and although the top edge of the curtain is not held stiff throughout its entire length, the door will fold along slat-junction lines in proper accordion manner Without the use of accordion hinges or other hinge structure of rigid material.

A further object hereof is to provide a novel and improved suspension means of the character mentioned, which is easily adaptable for accordion curtain doors having different width panels respectively, or constructed to assume hinged panel formations suitable for accordion fold.

A further object hereof is to provide novel and improved suspension means of the kind set forth, which is easily attachable to the curtain body, cheap to manufacture and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, we provide for each panel a saddle or channel piece straddling the panel end and secured thereto centrally thereof; the width of panel being greater than the length of such channel piece.

Each such channel piece, has a headed pin or shank extending therefrom lengthwise of the panel and centrally thereof. There is an inverted channel having inturned ends longitudinally serving as the track in which the heads of said shanks ride. Such track channel is secured along the upper horizontal frame piece of the door frame or along the ceiling of a room as the case may be. It "is evident that in this embodiment, the panels are vertical. We employ a series of links and mount them so that the ends of every link are pivotally on two successive shanks aforementioned respectively. Hence an end of each of two links is on each shank, except that the shanks on the end slats carry only one end of a link each. Of importance to note is that the links are of resilient material bendable from substantially straight to U-shape in horizontal plane in the embodiment shown. We prefer that the links in their unstressed condition shall be slightly in arc form towards the U-shape they are made to assume when the door is opened.

The links are preferably made of plastic with their end loops stretchable so that they are mounted easily onto the headed shanks by being passed over the head, for we prefer to make the channel pieces also of plastic; nylon ice.

being a suitable material permitting the headed shank to be molded integral with its channel piece. The channel pieces may be mounted onto the curtain by stapling.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 shows an accordion-type door embodying the teachings of this invention. The door is here shown in closed condition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary view which is a top plan view of the showing in Fig. 2. Here however, the door is shown in opened condition.

Fig. 4 is'a perspective view of one of'the channel pieces and its headed shank element.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the links in unstressed condition.

Fig. 6 is a section taken at lines 6-6 in Fig. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale.

In the drawings, the numeral 15 indicates generally a curtain member with an arrangement defining vertical hinge lines 16 thereon for an even-width panel formation foldable accordion-wise. Said hinge lines may be determined by cord-filled or piped tunnels as is well known in the art. The side ends of the curtain usually have a stick in tunnels 17 and 18, the height of said curtain. One end stick is secured to the wall 19, while the other is manipulated to open and close the door, which folds and unfolds accordion-wise as mentioned. Centrally of each panel 20 of the curtain member 15, along the top edge thereof, is secured a member 21 which may be an inverted channel piece of a length which might be less than the width of the panel. Centrally of itself, each such channel piece 21, has extending upwardly therefrom, the headed shank 22. Along the ceiling or on the underside of the upper horizontal frame piece of the door frame, there is mounted an inverted channel 23 having inturned ends 23 so that it serves as a track slidably holding the heads 22' of the shanks 22. Thus the curtain is suspended and of course, its length clears the floor. Said channel pieces 21 may be secured to the curtain by means of staples 24 applied by an ordinary stapling machine. Below the track member 23, the shanks 22 carry the links 25. These links are in succession, and each is on two successive shanks 22. The length of each link is a bit less than the width of a panel 20. Each of the links is set, so that its central arcual portion 25 is in the direction of the final U-shape 25" it is to assume when the door is opened. The holes 26 in the link ends are preferably sort of key-hole shaped, with perimeter portion 26 more than a semi-circle to provide a secured bearing for the shank 22. The links are mounted onto the shanks in the manner of working a Paris garter.

The force due to the resiliency of the stressed links 25, is insuflicient to make the door close because it is not enough to overcome the friction of the heads 22 on the channel track 23, caused by the weight of the curtain 15. However it is to be noted the action of such resiliency does tend to maintain the distance between successive shanks 22 equal substantially, thus making the angle between panels about even during the opening and the closing of the door, and the fact that the panel width exceeds the length of the channel piece 21, in no manner effects proper opening and closing of the door or the equi-angularity between panels.

The embodiment illustrated and explained is of a door which opens and closes by horizontal movement. Only one channel track 23 is required and channel pieces 21 are only at the upper ends of the panels of the curtain member 15.

The features of this invention may be applied to a door of this character which opens by movement along the vertical and of course closes along the vertical. For this,

turn Fig. 1 counter-clockwise a quarter turn, and supply the right hand ends of the panels 20 with equipment as at the left together with a fixed channel track akin to 23.

This invention is capable of various forms and numerous applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a suspension means for a door of the type'formed of sheet material arranged to fold zig-zag accordion-wise into panels of uniform width which when folded near one edge of the door opening will expose such opening and when extended, will close such opening, a plurality of substantially rigid, members adapted to be secured one onto each of said panels along a marginal edge of said door, a channel track member adapted to be secured near the door along said marginal edge; a plurality of shanks,

4 one extending from each of said members centrally of said panels respectively, into said channel track member and engaged thereby against disassociation therefrom respectively for independent sliding movement therealong and a plurality of links of bendable resilient material, one pivotally mounted at its ends to two successive shanks respectively whereby each pair of successive shanks are associated with a link respectively; the length of each such link between its pivotal connections being at least as long as the distance between successive shanks when the door is in closed condition.

2. The suspension means as defined in claim 1, wherein each link in unmounted normal extended condition, is bowed in its mid-portion.

3. The suspension means as defined in claim 1, wherein successive links are bowed in opposite directions and in aggregate follow the zig-zag formation of the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,713,899 Holloway et al. July 26, 1955 

